"Consumers would be willing to buy a self-driving car from leading technology companies even more so than your traditional automotive companies," said Gary Silberg, with the consulting firm KPMG. Silberg's auto research team conducted focus groups across the country where people were asked a series of questions about self-driving cars.

Google Car Top Pick

Three years after Google first showed the autonomous drive car it was developing, the tech firm's test car has left a lasting impression on Americans. In fact, when KPMG asked people which automaker or tech company they would buy a self-driving car from, the top answer was Google.

"When people talk about self-driving cars the number one vehicle they talk about is the Google car," said Silberg "They (Google) have gotten ahead of all the traditional OEM's (automakers) on this topic."

When KPMG asked people how much more they would pay for an autonomous drive car, KPMG found most people are willing to pay 20-25 percent more. "The data came back loud and clear, and more over the older folks we talked to were willing to pay more of a premium, in one case 40 percent or 50 percent more," said Silberg

The focus groups show why nearly every auto company is developing autonomous drive technology. If it can be proven to be safe and reliable, and some autonomous drive features in cars already meet that standard, buyers will pay for the technology.